The Adventurous Ero Path of a Sailor

Jack crumbled the note in disgust before turning his attention back to Lucas. "The balls on them.

"It looks to me like they've already decided on the dire consequences part," said Lucas.

"When was this sent over to us?"

"It came over right before dawn. We've had it for about an hour now."

Jack looked down at his watch. Their deadline would expire exactly at eleven o'clock this morning.

"What are my orders, Commodore?"

"A lot has changed in the last twenty-four hours, Jack. I have already radioed this back to the Admiralty and received a transmission from Bancroft himself just fifteen minute ago. No declarations of war have been made, but they are allowing us to shoot on sight any hostile Occitanian vessels.

"I don't suppose these new events countermand my orders from yesterday?" Jack asked.

Lucas shook his head. "Negative. You're still going in. But now you'll have to watch your back for the Occitanians as well as the Fourthies."

Jack chuckled. "This mission keeps getting better and better."

"I'll send your regards to Bancroft," said Lucas with a smirk.

At that moment, the door to the command center was opened from the outside and an out of breath Settler came rushing in.

"Settler, what's wrong?"

"Sir, we've picked up enemy ships on the radar! Two of them at a distance of just fifteen miles from the base!"

Both Jack and Lucas sprung from their seats to follow the deputy back to the radar room. Sure enough, Settler pointed out two blips just due west of the harbor.

"Those look like the two cruisers that shelled us yesterday. And the two that followed my squadron out here," said Jack.

"That they are. The only question is are we going to wait here like sitting ducks for them to attack again?"

"Like hell we are," said Jack before turning to fix Lucas with a stare. "Let me take the task force out to meet them."

"Are you sure, Jack? Those are powerful warships waiting out there for you."

"Sir? The blips are gone," said Settler while pointing back to the screen. Jack and Lucas looked again to confirm and sure enough, the radar was clear.

"Where the hell did they go?" Lucas asked out loud.

"They didn't just disappear. Let me go after that position, sir. This is nothing that the Destiny and her twelve inch guns can't handle. Besides, I have several men to avenge from yesterday."

Lucas thought about it for a moment and then finally nodded. "Do it. Pour some lead into those sons of bitches."

Jack saluted his officer and headed to the door without any further words. Right before he crossed the threshold, Lucas called out to him. "Jack, keep your radio on. And for god's sake, don't let them get away."

Jack nodded before practically sprinting out of headquarters, making his way quickly to the dock. Once he arrived, he was pleased to see the hustle of sailors from all three ships readying for action. He was thankful for Kim having gotten the word out to the rest of the ships as he heard the engines roaring on the Valiant and Destiny nearby.

Jack rushed up the plank of the Destiny and headed toward the bridge. As he hurried up the stairs to get to the command station, he nearly bumped right into Abigail as she stood right outside the door.

"Oh, Commander Easterbrook, what a pleasant surprise," she said with a smile before noticing the serious look on his face. "What's wrong, Jack?"

"Occitanians on the horizon. Fifteen miles away. We're going after them."

Abigail's face hardened and she nodded. "Say no more. Let's go into the bridge."

Jack followed her inside the bridge where a flurry of activity was already ongoing. Jack had to take a second to look around, marveling at how big the bridge was compared to the Valiant. It was almost double the size and it sat much higher on the superstructure so that the view out the front window was much better. It was a hell of an upgrade compared to his previous accommodations.

After a low whistle from Abigail, they all stopped to look in her direction.

"Crew, this is Commander Jack Easterbrook, the new commanding officer of Task Force 21. I'll make the necessary introductions later but first, we need to get out the harbor on a course due west as soon as possible," said Abigail.

"We're on it, ma'am," announced a short-haired brunette carrying a radio.

"Thank you, Stephanie," said Abigail with a short nod before turning back to Jack. He didn't wait for her to begin speaking.